Los Angeles Kings – Alec Martinez
The Los Angeles Kings are in a tough spot. Their Stanley Cup winning core has crumbled, leaving the pieces scattered across the league and the Kings with huge contracts to reward clutch performances. As such, the Kings can’t be the greatest of trade partners due to strenuous cap limitations.
However, Alec Martinez is worth one last look.
Every time the highlight plays, Rangers fans everywhere feel sadness. Martinez ended the best Rangers season I had personally been able to witness, and that’s hard to get over. Yet, he can still make a good addition to the Rangers.
Martinez isn’t a great point producer, having had a career year in 2016-2017 with 39 points over a full 82 games played. Since joining the league in 2009, Martinez has 147 points over 419 games. Martinez is a down and gritty defenseman, however.
The Rangers could’ve used Martinez much more in the past, but could now be a decent fall back plan if the defensive market doesn’t play out for Gorton this summer. What he lacks in point scoring he makes up for in defensive prowess. Martinez can kill penalties and protect leads- something the Rangers could’ve used this year.
His price tag is high at $4 million per season, but he is likely available for less than other trade options. The Kings are cap strapped. They could shed the $4 million to invest in more youth.